Re: Russia: attempts to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria using US fighters jets would violate international law

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Wulf

It would actually be quite simple to defeat a no fly zone. All the Syrian army would have to do it launch cheap unguided rockets at the missile sites every day. The Patriots are multi-million dollar missles and if the U.S. is trading one or two for a p.o.s. rocket like these, Syria wins when we can't afford to launch any more Patriots or launch any more sorties.

Missile sites aren't the only way a no-fly zone is protected, missiles can come from jets as well. The no-fly zone is intended to keep Assad's forces grounded. I doubt they would spend Patriots on these aging rockets anyway.

Re: Russia: attempts to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria using US fighters jets would violate international law

Both sides now propped up by foreign terrorists? Assad was fine when he was in secure control of his national forces against the uprising, but if Hezbollah is the main reason he's regaining ground, that doesn't look like a legitimate government to me.

Best I can say for Assad now is that he's better than any other option Syria has. It's a mess. But not our mess! Western countries ought to listen to Russia and keep out.

Re: Russia: attempts to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria using US fighters jets would violate international law

Quote:

Originally Posted by BloodRaven

Missile sites aren't the only way a no-fly zone is protected, missiles can come from jets as well. The no-fly zone is intended to keep Assad's forces grounded. I doubt they would spend Patriots on these aging rockets anyway.

The idea is for Syria to force them too. Once the U.S. starts ignoring the unguided rockets, the Syrians could launch a few guided ones with the next salvo... If both rockets are of roughly the same shape and size, the radar operater has a hard time telling the difference. Even harder if there are dozens of fast moving targets on the radar screen. So if the Patriot operaters really want to protect Israel, they are going to have to spend multimillion dollar guided missiles to take down flying, explosive tipped metal tubes. How long can they keep that up I wonder?

Re: Russia: attempts to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria using US fighters jets would violate international law

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Wulf

The idea is for Syria to force them too. Once the U.S. starts ignoring the unguided rockets, the Syrians could launch a few guided ones with the next salvo... If both rockets are of roughly the same shape and size, the radar operater has a hard time telling the difference. Even harder if there are dozens of fast moving targets on the radar screen. So if the Patriot operaters really want to protect Israel, they are going to have to spend multimillion dollar guided missiles to take down flying, explosive tipped metal tubes. How long can they keep that up I wonder?

Re: Russia: attempts to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria using US fighters jets would violate international law

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Wulf

So if the Patriot operaters really want to protect Israel, they are going to have to spend multimillion dollar guided missiles to take down flying, explosive tipped metal tubes.How long can they keep that up I wonder?

As long as Ben Shalom Bernake has enough ink and paper to print 100 dollar bills.